Coal Association cautions Canadians

The Environment and Climate Change Minister, Catherine McKenna, and EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, met on 7 April 2016. The Coal Association of Canada and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity urged Canadians to watch the talks.

“It’s notable that Ms. McCarthy’s plan to phase out coal in the US is being held to intense scrutiny in the US Supreme court,” commented Robin Campbell, President of the Coal Association of Canada. “Canadians have been significantly impacted by regulations in the US that affect our ability to get resources to market. While climate change policy is of significant importance to both countries, the market access issue also needs to be addressed.”

“While it is important that their discussions focus on the impact of climate change on indigenous communities, it’s worth noting that the resource sector in Canada is the greatest employer of indigenous people in Canada, and protecting jobs is our top priority,” Campbell continued. “Ms. McCarthy’s endorsement of carbon capture and sequestration technologies is a made-in-Canada solution to providing affordable and reliable power to Canadians while maintaining the jobs and communities that sustain this country. We look forward to meeting with Minister McKenna to discuss this innovative and moderate approach to the coal mining and power industry.”

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity warned Canadians, citing McCarthy’s role in the US coal phase out.

“Our neighbours to the north would be well advised to listen carefully to what EPA Commissioner Gina McCarthy isn’t saying as she makes her pitch for reducing emissions in Canada. For instance, she’s not likely to talk about how her own plan, here in the United States, has been halted by the land’s highest court as its legality is questionable, at best. Nor will McCarthy talk about how her plan will cost more than US$300 billion yet reduce global temperature rise by less than .01 degree,” said Laura Sheehan, senior vice president of communications for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

“It’s also interesting to hear McCarthy talk about the importance of research & development and new technologies to burn coal and other fossil fuels cleaner, given her policies at home placed a de facto ban on furthering critical development of carbon capture and sequestration. So while McCarthy talks a good game today up North, we encourage her audiences to keep their ears open and ask if what they are hearing is too good to be true.”